European Union approach to arms embargoes

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European Union approach to arms embargoes

EU member states share a common view that mandatory arms embargoes imposed by the United Nations should be respected. They have also occasionally agreed to impose arms embargoes under the umbrella of the EU Council of Ministers. The EU member states have taken steps to harmonize their approach to arms embargoes.

In July 2007 there were EU arms embargoes against twelve countries listed below. In addition, information is provided for countries formerly under embargo (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Indonesia, Iraq, Libya, FYR of Macedonia, Nigeria and Slovenia).

Text establishing embargo	Date established	Text lifting embargo
Afghanistan	17 Dec 1996	Common Position 2002/402/CFSP
Afghanistan (Taliban)	26 Feb. 2001
Taliban, Al-Qaida, Usama Bin Laden	27 May 2002
Bosnia-Herzegovina	5 July 1991	Council Common Position lifting arms embargo on Bosnia-Herzegovina, 23 January 2006 (pdf)
China	27 June 1989
DRC	7 April 1993
Côte d'Ivoire	13 Dec. 2004
Croatia	5 July 1991	Council Common Position lifting arms embargo on Croatia, 20 November 2000
Eritrea	15 March 1999	Council Common Position expired on 31 May 2001
Ethiopia	15 March 1999	Council Common Position expired on 31 May 2001
Indonesia	17 Sep. 1999	Council Common Position expired on 17 January 2000
Iran	23 April 2007
Iraq	4 August 1990	Common Position 2004/553/CFSP authorises the sale, supply, transfer or export of arms and related material required by the newly established Government of Iraq or the multinational force.
Lebanon	15 Sep. 2006
Liberia	7 May 2001
Libya	27 Jan. 1986	Restrictive measures lifted 14 Oct. 2004
Myanmar (Burma)	28 Oct. 1996
FYR of Macedonia	5 July 1991	Council Common Position lifting arms embargo on FYR of Macedonia, 26 February 1996
Nigeria	20 Nov. 1995	Council Decision lifting arms embago in Nigeria, 19 May 1999
North Korea (DPRK)	22 Nov. 2006
Sierra Leone (rebels)	29 June 1998
Slovenia	5 July 1991	Council Common Position lifting arms embargo on FYR of Macedonia, 26 February1996
Somalia	10 Dec. 2002
Sudan	15 Mar. 1994
Uzbekistan	14 Nov. 2005
Yugoslavia (FRY)	5 July 1991	Council Common Position lifting arms embargo on the FR Yugoslavia, 8 October 2001
Zimbabwe	18 Feb. 2002

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Any reproduction of text and data is authorized only by permission, SIPRI July 2006.

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